Pros
Opportunity to learn basic administrative project processes.
Cons
• The office culture is extremely clique-driven. Each department functions as its own group, and new hires are not integrated or welcomed. • During my first weeks, members of my internal team rarely acknowledged me, did not initiate conversation, and routinely went to lunch together without inviting new employees. This created a very isolating environment for multiple new hires, not just myself. • There is little to no onboarding or structured training for critical internal processes. I was issued a formal write-up within my first three months regarding an internal process I had not been properly trained on, without any prior coaching or corrective discussion. • Turnover is very high. Shortly after I joined, multiple team members resigned and others were terminated, creating an atmosphere of instability and fear. • Management style at the mid-level is inconsistent and often reactive rather than supportive or developmental. • The role advertised as Assistant Project Manager is more accurately described as a project coordinator or administrative support role. APMs are not treated as integral members of the project team and are primarily tasked with paperwork rather than project leadership or growth responsibilities. • The environment has a strong “bro/frat” culture. Employees who do not fit into that dynamic may find it difficult to integrate. If you are seeking a true Assistant Project Manager role with mentorship, inclusion, and professional development, this is not the environment. The internal team culture in the Costa Mesa office is particularly challenging for new hires.